Weekend Wrap-Up

 Our weekend fun started a little early with the Jason Aldean concert on Thursday night!

It was Kase's first big concert.

Kent had purchased tickets a long time ago- long before we knew Kylee would be running at State so she made a smart decision to stay home and get to bed early.  The concert was fun!

You can see here that Kase was clearly enjoying it.  Ha. We also didn't realize when we bought the tickets that Kase would have early band the next morning.  Eek.

I brought Kase home early so he could get to bed but Kent and Kael stayed to the end and had a great time!

Friday the kids were dressed in their respective football playoff/XC state qualifier shirts so I had them take a picture together.  Special memory for sure.

Friday night was Kase's Trunk or Treat at his school.  Every year I buy him a costume and every year he ends up going as a football player so this year I told him we could just dig through our dress up bin and find something to wear.  Imagine my surprise when he agreed to be a pink milkshake.  Ha.

Kylee was at her last XC practice and team dinner and Kent, my parents and his parents headed to Cedar Falls for playoff football! I love this shot Kent got of them on the field together at the Dome. The game didn't end how we wanted but I think Kael is just fine with the season being over.  So proud of him for all the time and work he has put in and super proud of him for sticking it out all the way through his senior year!

Saturday morning Kylee was off early to catch her bus to Fort Dodge for XC State! The driveway had gotten chalked the night before- the girls did such a good job!

The rest of us went to Drake to watch Kase play in his 7 on 7 football championship game. So cool that he got to play there!

My mom got some great shots of Kase's facial expressions and reactions.  

In the end, we won big.  A mom from the other team came up to me and asked, "What are you guys feeding those boys?! I mean, I thought our team was good and you guys are just next level!" I told her that these boys play football together nearly year round every day in my backyard and many of them play baseball together so they have a pretty special bond. 

Kase looked great as QB.  So, so proud of this buddy.

Winners! 

We quick loaded up and picked up Kylee's boyfriend and headed to Fort Dodge!

Pep talk.  Above and below.

Couldn't be more proud of Kylee that she got to be a part of this group. A freshman running Varsity every single race this year (besides the first one where they all run at grade level). At such a big school like Centennial.  We ended up fourth place overall which was disappointing to some of the girls.  Besides our top runner, no one really had a great race and one of our top girls didn't finish.   That said, I know Kylee wasn't happy with her time but I could see her struggling towards the end and she gutted it out and crossed the finish line upright.  I know she was so exhausted and sore and gave it her all.  Proud of her for making it to the finish!

I couldn't believe that Tammy and Berkley and also a couple of Kylee's really close friends made the effort to come all the way to Fort Dodge for a 20 minute race! What a great village Kylee has of people who love and support her. The team went out for dinner after then Kylee went to a bonfire with some of the girls when she got back to town.  The boys and I came home and had a nice night just chilling and watching the World Series.

Sunday Kael worked and the rest of us went to Grandma Cindy and Grandpa Keith's to celebrate the October birthdays.  Kylee soaked up some much needed little cousin time!

That afternoon Kase played with friends and Kylee hung out with her boyfriend.  I asked all of them if they wanted to carve or paint pumpkins with me but *sigh* no one did so I did them myself! Kent suggested glow in the dark paint because we had black lights up so I thought they turned out pretty good!

Kase decided to go trick or treating as a Savannah Banana.

He went to a friend's house before time for their annual "moldy mac and cheese and mummy dog" dinner. 

Then they hit the 'hood! 

Kylee had a couple of friend parties to go to and Kael went to the gym then had a friend come hang out so Kent and I sat in the driveway and handed out candy.  We brought the fire pit out front, Kent had a fog machine and spooky music playing- we had a pretty nice setup!

Kael hung out with us for a little bit and got a kick out of a guy going by in a Michael Myers costume- we cued up our music to the theme song and it was just perfect.  The guy came over later and thanked us for playing his music to help his act look even better!

There were definitely some highs and lows this weekend but in the end I'm just happy to spend time making memories with my people.  Turning the page to club volleyball for Kylee and basketball for Kase!

Thankful Thursday

 I'm thankful that 4/5 of us were free Tuesday night to go to the volleyball game to see the Jags qualify for State! You can barely see Kael at the far right edge of this photo but he was down there running onto the court to celebrate with the high school students after match point!

I'm thankful for fun surprise Halloween gifts from my parents.  It brightened all the kids' days.

I'm thankful for a very full and exciting weekend ahead then equally looking forward to some slower weeks coming up! 

Long Weekend Wrap-Up

 We were all soooo ready for a long weekend.  No school Friday or Monday meant extra time for fun! 

Kent took the boys to the A frame on Friday.  The fishing may not have been great but the company and the weather sure was! Kase was also really excited about the large bluegill they caught.

Friday night was Senior Night at the football game.  I could not have been more proud to walk across that track with Kael. 

He has worked so hard this season. 

He got to play quite a bit in the game and did really well! 

I just love seeing him out there.

Love, love, love this kid.

Kase was excited to get to stand out with Kent on the field for a few minutes!

Kylee had been at cross country practice earlier that day and enjoyed spending the rest of the day chilling with her boyfriend.

After the game there was a cake reception for the seniors and their parents.  Also we were asked to write letters to our kids congratulating them on a great season.  Kent wrote a really nice letter to Kael. 

Kael and Coach Jerry Pezetti.

Saturday morning Kylee had cross country practice then the girls decorated door signs for State! Love this!!! That evening she had a birthday party sleepover for a friend.

Kase spent the day with friends.  They played football, played at the park, watched the Hawkeyes, played ping pong...it was the exact day Kase wanted.  Later he and one buddy rode with us over to my parents house to hang out for a bit and walk around the backyard.  It was such a nice day! Kael had been at work all day then later had a friend's bonfire.

Kent and I took the boys up to have dinner at Briarwood and play a little pickleball. 

Sunday morning Kent, Kylee and I were at church. Kael went to work and Kase got invited to go to the Ledges with a friend.  

They had fun catching tadpoles!

Later that afternoon I took Kylee and her boyfriend and Kase and a friend to the apple orchard.  We had the best time.

The boys loved these giant milkshakes!

"Hey Kase, want to take a picture?" This was the best we got.  Windy hair, don't care.

Fun times.

While we were gone Kent went to visit his grandpa and I was so glad he made time to do that.  Kael had team lifting and also went to the gym then later hung out at a friend's house. The rest of the night the rest of us just had a lazy night here.  Kylee hung out with Garrett, Kent and I sat in the hot tub and later we watched baseball.  

Monday there was no school.  Kids all slept in- hooray! Then Kylee and her boyfriend went to a movie, Kase went to Urban Air with a friend and Kael went with a friend to the guitar store.  I'm so happy for him that he is continuing this hobby.  He found a nice acoustic guitar to buy and is excited to spend some time playing it.  While the kids were all occupied I had time to clean the house and run errands- so funny I ran into my parents and my niece and nephew at Target! I love when Ankeny feels like small town like that. I really enjoyed listening to Kael play his guitar all afternoon and evening!

Kael went to football and Kylee went to cross country- Kase went to Pizza Ranch then back to a friend's house- they had a water gun fight out in the rain. Ha. All three kids came home from their separate events and sat in the hot tub! They were chilly from being out in the rain. Later Kent took Kase to a movie.

Kylee and Garrett spent the evening making Halloween cupcakes then putting together a Lego set. 

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I had a nice evening hanging out with Kael- he had a show he had been wanting to watch with me so we did that.  Love spending time with him. What a great long weekend! So nice to have a couple extra non-school days with my people!